After graduating No. 3 in her class at George Washington High School, Jillian Somera relocated to Chicago to study music and to launch careers as a musician and as a software engineer. Somera’s life and career were on track. But when the pandemic hit, venues for live performances shut down and once-present opportunities in the Windy City, overnight, blew away.
“COVID pretty much tanked all that and threw me into some serious burnout,” said Somera, sharing the devastating effects of lockdown and social isolation.
Without an outlet to jam and share her music, Somera poured herself into her corporate job. Instead of “Jillian Somera and the Beta Option” entertaining audiences at packed bars and other venues, it had become: Jillian Somera, the software engineer, unhappy and alone at her computer.
“By losing that musical outlet, in addition to my sense of community because of the lockdowns, I began to focus only on my corporate job and started to suffer from a myriad of health issues, both physically and mentally, which led to a few hospitalizations," said Somera, who wrote fraud detection software that prevented terrorists and money launderers from signing up for bank accounts.
In January 2023, a good friend introduced her to pickleball. But, it didn’t stick. Mostly, she was bored, sick and tired of being sick and tired, so she decided to give it a try. But, it didn’t stick. Shortly after her introductory pickleball session, Somera, as her health deteriorated, made the difficult decision to return to Guam and move in with her parents in Yigo. Closer to family, she received nurturing support that had been lacking, and her health began to improve.
“I’m still in recovery today, and continue to have trouble with chronic insomnia, emotional regulation, and suffer from iron-deficiency anemia,” said Somera, adding, "It’s been a long road, but the strength and support of the Guam community has certainly helped a lot, though I’ve never voiced it until this interview.”
“These days, I try to live an active lifestyle and engage with activities that ground me — pickleball being one of them — so that I have a strong foundation no matter where I go,” she said.
With health on the upswing and distanced from the illness she acquired in Illinois, Somera decided it was time to seek an active lifestyle. It was time to give pickleball another try.
“This second time around, it stuck. Once again, I found myself searching for something to get out of my hibernation mode and reintegrate back into island life,” she said.
Very quickly, Pickleball Guam Association, the nonprofit organization that hosts open play three days a week and manages tournaments, welcomed Somera and helped foster her love for the game. Thirty-two weeks later, Somera has become one of PGA’s most active and inspirational members.
“I just kept showing up every week and became one of the crew,” she said, adding that the PGA community, even by Guam’s standards, is super friendly and welcoming.
“It took me a week to get added to two new WhatsApp pickleball groups. This is how I got to the insane play schedule I have now,” she said. “These days, I actually have to turn down games because I do have a life outside of pickleball. And, rest days are important. I am now up to seven pickleball WhatsApp chat groups and counting. But, who's really counting?”
But Somera didn’t just become part of the crew by accident or get added to chat groups for no reason. She dedicated herself to the sport and excelled.
In the beginning, her groundstrokes, volleys, dinks, lobs, serves, smashes and decision-making skills were lacking. Now, 7-1/2 months later, she is whipping winners around the post, serving aces and hitting smashes.
“I play 5-6 times a week for at least three hours at a time, and I also drill in the mornings for about two hours from time to time,” Somera said. “All in all, I would say, I’m averaging at least 20 hours a week at this point. Yikes! At least it’s a healthy addiction that’s doctor-approved.”
She said that she remembers how she used to tire quickly, even after a few games. “Now, I run around for three hours full-out, don’t even sweat, and ask people why they’re so tired,” she said.
Why pickleball?
Like the hundreds of other pickleball players in Guam, Somera has taken to the sport because of its accessibility, (equipment cost and court fees are relatively inexpensive), familial atmosphere, and quickness of play.
“I think it’s the accessibility that impresses me the most: the courts are consistently multigenerational and that has allowed me to enjoy the game with all kinds of people from different walks of life,” she said. “In this modern day and age, it’s very easy to isolate and be in our own little corners, especially on the internet. Pickleball holds this unique space where an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old can get on the court, work up a sweat, and play a great game that’s enjoyable for everyone. That equalizing power amazes me every time.”
“I think that the community aspect really provides a motivational factor that just doesn’t exist for me in individual fitness settings,” said Somera, who has tried many different forms of exercise but has ditched them all.
She said that the nature of pickleball fosters an environment where people are constantly interacting on and off the court, leading to a spirit of friendly competition where people develop a sense of community and push each other to be better in an incredibly organic way.
A shedding Gecko
As Somera’s journey toward health and happiness through pickleball continues, her large presence on the courts and in the sporting community has become smaller — frumpy clothing and T-shirts replaced by revealing pickleball dresses as she sports a renewed love of life and beams with long-dormant confidence.
“Seeing my body transform and mindset change as a result of playing pickleball consistently has been super encouraging and motivating for maintaining a healthy lifestyle,” she said.
Somera, with toned legs and less weight to tote around, has no delusions of becoming a professional pickleball player. But she would like to make the sport the focus of vacations and travel the world.
“I’m also curious about how far I can push myself as an athlete. Because, in middle school, I had consciously given up sports for music, living my previous life primarily as a potato that can play a mean guitar.”
